Each demon lord has a unique appearance and set of abilities. Most control at least one layer of the Abyss. A demon lord, when slain in a plane other than the Abyss, is banished to the Abyss for 100 years, whereas "ordinary" demons, including the mightiest balors and mariliths, risk being reborn into a lesser form (or not at all). The most powerful demon lords are demon princes. "Demon lord" and "demon prince" are self-proclaimed titles; unlike the archdevils, the chaotic evil demon lords do not have a rigid hierarchy. However, first edition AD&D did claim a demon can only be called a prince if he or she rules an entire plane of the Abyss, thus Orcus implied by his title to rule at least one plane of existence, while lesser lords did not.

Demon lords wage eternal war with each other, often seeking ways to expand their holdings into other layers and at the same time defend their personal domains from rival lords and scheming underlings. Demogorgon has for many years been the most powerful demon lord, and he proclaims himself Prince of Demons. Orcus and Graz'zt contest his title, as does the obyrithObox-ob, who once held that title.

Most demon lords have secretive mortal cults who seek to elevate their lords to godhood through prayer and sacrifice. Book of Vile Darkness details a number of prestige classes for mortal disciples of demon lords, as does the "Demonomicon of Iggwilv" feature currently running in Dragon magazine.

In AD&D, demon lords may not have complete sovereignty over a layer of the Abyss, whereas all demon princes rule one or more layers.[1] However, both Lords and Princes were assigned the status of lesser gods.

In 2E AD&D, both demon lords and demon princes are known as Abyssal lords.[2]

In 3E D&D, almost all demon lords control a layer of the Abyss, and many have a scattering of mortal worshippers, whereas all demon princes control at least one layer of the Abyss, and all have mortal worshippers.[3]

The majority of these demon lords below appear as listed in Appendix I in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss. (f) indicates a female demon lord, (o) indicates an obyrith, (l) indicates a loumara, and (d) indicates a lord that is presumed dead.

Note that any demon lord who was mentioned by name only in the Monster Manual II (1983), on page 35, is noted as "*MM2".

*MM2, Lost Empires of Faerûn, page 21, Dungeon #148, page 66, Dragon #357 page 68. Slain by the arch-devil Gargauth, now functions as a vestige as his corpse is continually regenerated and destroyed in the Wells of Darkness.

First debut in module D3: Vault of the Drow and more prominently, in Q1: Queen of the Demonweb Pits. Went on to appear in many other supplements such as first edition Fiend Folio and Deities and Demigods (all three editions).

Monster Manual II (1983), page 41; Dragon #329 "Demonomicon of Iggwilv", page 56; Book of Vile Darkness web enhancement; Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, pages 76–77. Also known as Pazrael. Pazuzu has since abandoned his layer of Torremor and has laid claim on Pazunia.

Paizo Publishing released Book of the Damned, Vol. 2: Lords of Chaos for the Pathfinder campaign setting in 2010.[4] Written by Fiendish Codex I co-author James Jacobs, it took obvious inspiration from both Armies of the Abyss and Fiendish Codex I, though some details were different, and new demon lords took the place of lords with copyrighted names. The following demon lords were described in this volume:

Lamashtu

Abraxas

Aldinach

Andirifkhu

Angazhan

Areshkagal

Baphomet

Cyth-V’sug

Dagon

Deskari

Flauros

Gogunta

Haagenti

Jezelda

Jubilex

Kabiri

Kostchtchie

Mazmezz

Mestama

Nocticula

Nurgal

Orcus

Pazuzu

Shax

Shivaska

Sifkesh

Socothbenoth

Urxehl

Xoveron

Yhidothrus

Zevgavizeb

Zura

Lords of Chaos also details a number of dead demon lords and nascent demon lords.

Green Ronin published a D&Dd20 supplement entitled Armies of the Abyss (2002, reprinted in 2003 as part of the Book of Fiends compilation) that provides information on 21 demon lords. Demon lords that share their names with D&D demon lords are listed in bold. As this book was written by Erik Mona, who would later be publisher of Dragon Magazine and co-author of Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, later demonic works by Mona and by fellow Paizo staffer and Fiendish Codex I co-author James Jacobs would seek to remain essentially compatible with it.

Abaddon

Abraxas

Anarazel

Astaroth

Azazel

Azidahaka

Behemoth

Decarabia

Eligor

Flauros

Gamigin

Haagenti

Ipos

Marbas

Nocticula

Raum

Sabnach

Seere

Shax

Socothbenoth

Vepar

A number of minor lords were also detailed in Armies of the Abyss:

Cresil the Impure (may or may not be equated with Gresil).

Eurynomous the Corpse Eater

Malohin the Strangler

Merihim

Philotanus the Seducer

Rahu the Tormentor

Shiggarebb, Lady of the Qlippoths

Gary Gygax, in his Gord novels: "The Sea of Death", "Come Endless Darkness" and "Dance of Demons", mentioned many other demon lords. These include:

Agadin, a minor demon allied to Demogorgon.

Apepi, a snake-like lord.

Areex, a minor demon who plots with Zuggtmoy.

Ariax, a prince defeated by Graz'zt.

Arioch, a demon lord who retreats when Tharizdun takes over the Abyss.

Bulumuz, a demon lord in the service of Iuz. He is killed by Tharizdun.

Cagrino, possibly a lord of the chargin demons. Cagrino chitters when he speeks.

Chidun, said to be allied with Var-Az-Hloo (Fraz-Urb'luu).

Elazalag, Princess of the Abat-Dolors; former consort to Graz'zt.

Eblis, a demon lord opposing Graz'zt. He is allied with Iuz.

Levithan, an uncommited demon with no particular sides.

Lugush, a demon prince opposing Graz'zt.

Ogrijek, lord of the cowardly four-winged man-hawks zabassus. He seves Graz'zt, but he is executed by his master.

Poshban, a minor demon lord allied with Demogorgon.

Mandrillagon, kin to Demogorgon, ruler of two layers of the Abyss. He is cowardly, but powerful.

Marduk, King of the Fire Demons and a Monarch of Demonium.

Meurteenz, a minor demon allied to Demogorgon.

Mycortte, a powerful Abat-Dolor demon, who serves as Ezazalag's second in command.

Nigroch, an Abat-Dolor warrior, and chief herald.

Palvlag, an ancient proto-demon of fire. He serves Graz'zt, and he wants to kill those who serve Nerull.

Shabriri, a proto-demon, and brother to Pazuzu. Shabriri is large, and he has many eyes.

Trobbo-gotath, a "greatest demon of earth". He serves Demogorgon.

Ushablator the Chaos Horror. He is one of the few demons that resists Graz'zt.

Vloorm, a minor demon allied to Demogorgon.

Volophon, a minor demon allied with Demogorgon.

Yuibiri, allied with Var-Az-Hloo.

Zerkaar, a minor demon allied to Demogorgon.

Zomar, allied with Var-Az-Hloo.

Zortolagon, said to be one of the greatest demons of the Abyss. He is one of the few demons that resists Graz'zt.

Necromancer Games, in their Tome of Horrors I and II listed alternate statistics of official demon lords Baphomet, Dagon, Fraz-Urb'luu, The Faceless Lord (aka Juiblex), Kostchtchie, Orcus, and Pazuzu. They also include: